Journeying to Diomede, Alaska

 

So many of you are probably wondering how one gets to Diomede, Alaska.  Well first you must fly Alaska Air to Nome, Alaska and overnight in a hotel as the flight from Anchorage to Nome does not arrive early enough to be able to make it for the scheduled flight to Diomede.  Just a note, passenger flights are only once a week one Mondays and that's only if the weather is good.  My first year going out here we were stranded in Nome until Friday due to inclement weather with me wondering if I had enough cat food left.

I stayed at the lovely Nugget Inn.  It doesn't have the best reputation but they're pet friendly and allowed 3 cats so I can't complain.  Service was great and the welcoming desk was very helpful.  In fact on my stay departing my 2nd year in Diomede the inn keepers 6 year old daughter insisted on helping me with my kitties.

 

Gwendolyn prefers the solitude of the lone fridge but don't worry, she snuggled up come night time.

 Mushki has no complaints.  💭Ah...this is the life.💭  For those of you with pets you can also board your animals at the Nome Animal House as well.  I can't say Mushki would approve of such a choice as she prefers the comfort of kitty tested mattresses but as you wish.

Ready to depart.  Make sure you bring a warm jacket or coat even in the summer as it gets chilly up this way.  The principal was kind enough to lend me his.  

 Away we go!  The kitties are pack up tight...getting ready for lift off.

 

Did you know that Pathfinder encourages everyone to be prepared for an emergency landing?  Hmmm...I don't fancy overnighting here.

 This is it...almost there.

 

Nearing arrival.  As you can see Little Diomede is towards the right and Big Diomede is on the left where the Russian military base is located.

 

 After we departed the helicopter villagers mentioned a whale off in the distance.  I looked but didn't see it.  After 5 days of being delayed in Nome, Alaska where even the superintendent offered to treat us to a movie (only Rob and I weren't interested) we finally made it to Diomede and after this flight...NO FLIGHTS FOR 3+ WEEKS!!!  We made it out just in the knick of time.  Good thing I sent out 3 months of cat food earlier this summer.  What' the cause for the delay you ask?  Because something went wrong mechanically with the chopper and it took 3 weeks to get the part to Nome after all of the delays.  This meant that some of our students who were suppose to come the week after us (or considering we didn't arrive until Friday, 3 days later that following Monday) ended up missing 3 weeks of school.  Golly, like it isn't hard enough teaching pre-k through 5th grade in one class, now I have to catch up students in varying grade levels who missed an entire month of school. 

 

We're finally home.  Yes, it has been a loooonnng trip and the kitties are happy to be in their home for the next year even if it is a classroom.  The three musketeers are pooped.